Teleprinter machine comprising a device for variably setting the ribbon stroke



United States Patent 2,999,899 TELEPRINTER MACHINE COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR VARIABLY SE'ITING THE RIBBON STROKE Herbert Wsteney and Rudolf Rekewitz, Munich, Germany, assignors to Siemens & Halske Aktiengesellschaft Berlin and Munich, a corporation of Germany Filed May 20, 1958, Ser. No. 736,514 Claims priority, application Germany May 31, 1957 8 Claims. (Cl. 178-23) This invention is concerned with a teleprinter machine provided with a plurality of auxiliary devices which are diiferently affected according to two operating conditions, for example, during transmitting and receiving, respectively, one such device controlling the variable setting of the ribbon stroke.

Difficulties may arise, especially in connection with two-way question and answer operation, when it is desired to ascertain subsequently the parts of the recorded message which had been respectively transmitted and received.

lt is known to avoid these difn'culties by recording the transmitted and the received characters in diierent colors, for example, by means of a ribbon carrying two diierently inked portions. The alteration with respect to the kind of recording is thereby carried out, for example, by imparting to the ribbon a larger stroke under control of an element which is moved only incident to transmitting, for example, responsive to depression of a recording key or only incident to the receiving operation.

The customary structures for altering the ribbon stroke in teleprinter machines require considerable power for raising the ribbon fork to its highest position and are, for this reason disadvantageous and in the case of some systems not directly applicable.

The object ofthe invention is to provide very simple means for controlling the operation of the device for changing the ribbon stroke by utilizing one or more auxiliary devices which are differently aifected incident to two operating conditions of the machine, for example, by means of a device which controls the transmission of station designation. According to the invention, this object is realized by the use of a common bistable member for the control of the auxiliary devices.

It is in connection with the invention vimmaterial whether the machine operates with -more or less purely mechanical means for converting the motion of the keys or of the storage scanning elements into electrical impulses, converting these impulses into legible type, or whether the corresponding converter means contain relays or electronic elements.

In connection with a teleprinter machine having a device for changing the stroke of the ribbon fork for the purpose of distinguishing between transmitted and received messages, and having a further device for inhibiting transmission of the station identiiication, during the transmission of messages, the invention provides, in accordance with another object and feature, an element for controlling the device for altering the ribbon stroke, and an interlock device for additionally aecting said element comprising, for example, a lever and a spring-biased shaft, said interlock device being operatively released incident to the transmitting and being automatically locked after each printing operation and being also employed for controlling the transmission of station identification.

In case the device for changing the stroke of the ribbon fork is controlled by the printer bar, the printer bar and the adjustable element which is affected thereby for controlling the motion of the ribbon fork and which is displaced from its normal position with respect to the printer bar by at least one structural part which is operatively effective only in one operating condition, for example,

Patented Sept. 12, 1961 ICC transmitting or receiving, are in a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the diiferent operating conditions in engagement at diiferent points which determine the different ribbon strokes.

The element for controlling the actuation of the ribbon fork is preferably made in the form of a pull rod which is in one operating condition (for example, typing of the message being transmitted) in engagement with an edge of the printer bar, such bar affecting the type lever pull bars, While being in the other operating condition (for example, recording of a received message), in which it is lifted off from the edge of the printer bar, carried along by the printer bar for a short path thereof, such operation being eected by means of a coupling comprising a pin disposed Within a slot formed in an operating part.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the element for controlling the operation of the ribbon fork may be constructed as a pull rod carrying two ears of different length for engagement with the edge of the printer bar and having such ears disposed so that the edge of the printer bar, in the course of its motion in one operating condition (for example, typing the message being transmitted), engages into the short ear, while leaving this ear unaffected during the other operating condition (for example, recording of the received message) and with the pull rod slightly lifted, and carrying such pull rod along for a short distance of the path of the printer bar.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, particularly simple conditions will be obtained in connection with teleprinter machines having a device for distinguishing transmitted messages from received messages and having a type carrier which is movable along the line to be printed, by providing a rocking bar extending throughout the length of the line to be printed, which bar is after release of the interlock device moved into an angular position, by a spring which is tensioned in the pauses between two printing operations, in which position it aiects additionally the element controlling the ribbon fork motion, in the sense of changing the ribbon fork stroke, for example, against the force of a further spring, in the direction of the printer bar.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the element controlling the ribbon fork may also be affected by means of a Bowden pulley or another cable pulley to provide for changing the ribbon fork stroke. A structure of this kind is particularly advantageous in connection with teleprinter machines having type carriers which are movable along the line to be printed.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, it is advantageous, particularly when the device for additionally aiecting the ribbon fork stroke is not disposed in the immediate vicinity of the printer, being, for example, combined wit-h an attachable perforated tape transmitter, to release the interlock for the element for the additional control of the ribbon fork stroke electromagnetically, pneumatically, hydraulically or by Bowden pulley or by-pass cable pulley means.

The various objects and features of the invention will appear from the description which will be rendered below with reference to the accompanying drawing showing in perspective representation an embodiment thereof. Parts of the teleprinter machine which are not essential fory an understanding of the invention have been omitted.

Referring now to the drawing, a shaft 1 is provided within the stationary part of a printer of a page teleprinter machine equipped with a type lever basket (not shown) movable in line direction, such shaft also functioning in connection with the release of transmission of a station identification. The shaft 1 is biased for clockwise rotation by a spring Z and carries a lever 3, the end 3a of such lever being in the illustrated normal position inter:

locked with lever 4 which is controlled bythe transmitter shaft (not shown). A lever 5 is loosely journalled upon the shaft 1, a spring 6 connecting the lever 5 wit-h the lever 3 as shown. The lever 5 serves forlocking a rocking bar 8 in the illustrated position in which-the transmitter of the teleprinter machine is--not in operatior1,--the rocking bar 8 being journalled for rotation about a shaft 7 and extending over the entire width of the teleprinter machine. The end 5a of the lever S thereby engages the end 9a of lever 9 which connects the rocking bar 8 with shaft 7 at the left end thereof.

A printer bracket 11 is connectedV withV the'typelever basket (not shown) which is movable :along hexline .to be printed and which is respectively:raisedyandrlowered incident to type case change. The printerbracket 11' is by way of edge 11a in driving engagement with a type lever pull rod 12 which had been moved'into actuating position, for initiating the'printing'ofa. character; .the pull rod 12 which is longitudinallymovablesagainst the force of a springv 13, being disposed above. the :printer ybracket 11. The pull rod 12 is linked for drivingfcooperation with an angular lever 17 by Way of apin 14 as Vwell as an intermediate lever 15 and a further pin 16, the angular lever 17 being journalled for displacement about a pin 18. The bolt 18 is fastened to a transport slide (not shown), carrying the type lever basket, suchslide however being not raised and lowered. The other arm of the angular lever 17 carries a pin 19 entering into a notch 20 formed in an angularly bent lever which is mounted on an axially movable pin 21, the other end of the bent lever being positioned for cooperation with the lever 22 which is' screw connected with the ribbon fork 23, serving to impart up-and-down motion to a two-color ribbon 24. The upper portion of the ribbon may be inked black and the lower portion red. In the illustrated resting or normal position, the pull rod 12 is by means of spring 13 held with its rearward end 12a in engagement With a stop 25. The uppermost vertical position of the left (forward) Vend of the pull rod 12 is determined by a pin 26 carried by an angular lever 28 which is disposedfor rotation about the axis of a pin 27 journalled in the type lever basket. When the teleprinter machine is used for transmitting, the lower end 28a of the angular lever 28 will be displaced by the rocking bar 8 so as to rotate the lever 28 clockwise.

When the teleprinter machine is receiving, the pull rod -12, by the force of spring 13, will move the pin 26 upwardly, at the same time also movingritsA ear 12b upwardly with respect to the edge 11a of the printer bar or bracket 11 so that the edge '11a cannot affect the ear 12a upon actuation ofthe printer bracket. The cooperation between the printer bracket 11 and the pull rod 12 is effected by means of a slotted angular member 29 which is adjustably mounted on the lprinter-bracket 11, the pin 14 extending from the pull rod 12 into a slot `formed in one leg of the angular member 29. The pull rod 12 will be moved after the printer-bracket has moved through the greater part of its path. The angular lever 17 will thereby be rotated clockwise, resulting in raising the parts 22 to. 24 so as to dispose the black-inked portion of the ribbon opposite the line to be printed.

When the teleprinter machine is operated to transmit, the lever 4 will be moved downwardly with each revolution of the transmitter shaft. The lever 3 is thereby released and will move clockwise, by the action of the springs '6 and 2, the end 3b thereby hitting extension 5b of the lever 5, causing release of the lever 5 from the end 9a of lever 9. Prior to such release, the lever ends v5a and 9a were held in engagement by the action of spring 6 and also spring 30 acting on the lever 10. The levers 9 and y10 are fastened to the rocking bar 8 as indicated in .the drawing. The rocking Vbar 8 is. consequently moved counterclockwise, thereby exerting a' force on I' the end 281101:' lever 28, rotating the lever l28 clockwise and therebyA causing-the pin -26 to move the `pull-rod 12 downwardly. Upon actuation .oftheplinter bracket 11 forwardly, to the left, the edge 11a will be brought into engagement with the extension 12b of the pull rod 12. The pull rod 12 is' thereby carried along by the printer bracket 11 for a considerably longer paththan during the Receiving operation .ofthe machine.` Thefribbon is in the present case raised by the cooperation of the same intermediate linking elements as previously explainedfin connection with the receiving operation, to such Yan extent that the red portionthereof is brought to line position.

In order to avoid uncertain operation' due to chattering of the rocking lever 8, there is provided an auxiliary locking lever 31 which is together with the lever 10 ccntrolled by cam means governed by the printer shaft, effecting after printing the release of the lever 31 from the rocking bar 8 and thereupon causing the rocking bar to return into the illustrated initial position. The shaft 1 is at the same time rotated counterclockwise, under control of means (not shown) governed by the printer shaft, for example, by means of the extension 1a -to which is anchored thespring 2, until Vthe levers 3 and 5 are again in cooperative engagement respectively with levers 4 and 9 which meanwhile restored.

Changes and modifications may be made. For example, an electromagnet may be substituted for the lever 4 or such lever may 'be adjustably set by desired and suitable cable pulley means Yor the like-controlled from an attachable perforated `tape transmitter. The common bistable element for the control of the auxiliary devices may be different, for example, electrically governed, especially in the case of teleprinter machines operating with electric or electroniccontrol devices. The auxiliary devices may likewise be constructed differently.

What is -believed -to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent isdefined the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A teleprinter machine including ribbon actuating means having a variable stroke having a rst-auxiliary 'device-for selectively variably setting the ribbon stroke and a second auxiliary device for Ycontrolling station identication means, said auxiliary devices being respectively dilferently operatively aected incident to transmitting and receiving said first device including an element for governing the variable setting ofthe ribbon stroke, said second vdevice including interlock means, and means operable by said interlock means for operatively affecting the actuation of said element Afor governing the variablesettingof the ribbon stroke.

2. A structure and cooperation of parts according to claim 1comprising means effective during the transmitting operation of said machine for releasing said interlock means, and means for automatically restoringthe interlock thereof after each printing operation.

3. A structure and cooperation of parts according to claim 2, comprising a printing bracket, said element for governing the setting of theIibbon stroke cooperatively associated with said printing bracket, and means for variably interconnecting said element with points on said printing bracket, for actuation thereby to set said ribbon stroke, in accordance respectively with the transmitting and receiving operations Yof said machine.

4. A structure and cooperation of Yparts according to claim 3, comprising a pull rod constituting Ysaid element, means effective when operating said machine for transmitting for operatively interconnecting said pull rod with an edge of said printing bracket, and rmeans for coupling said pull rod with said printing bracket for displacement thereby when said machine is Yin a receiving condition.

5. A structure and cooperation of-parts ,according to claim 3, comprising a pull rod-constituting said element, two ears of different .length carried bysaid pull rod for coupling said pull rod withan edge of rsaid printing bracket, said printing bracket actuating said pull rod by engagement with the shorter one of said ears incident to trausmittingoperationoffsaidmachine, means for raising said pull rod incident to receiving operation of said machine to prevent engagement of said short ear Iby said printing bracket and to cause said printing bracket to displace said pull rod for a shorter portion of its operating path.

6. A structure and cooperation of parts according to claim 2, comprising a printer bracket for actuating said element, a rocking bar extending throughout the length of the line to be printed, and spring means tensioned during the pauses between successive printing operations for angularly moving said rocking bar after release of said interlock device for moving said element with respect to said printer bracket.

7. A structure and cooperation of pants according to claim 6, comprising means for locking said rocking bar against displacement subsequent to actuation thereof until conclusion of .the printing operation.

8. A structure and cooperation of parts according to which is respectively raised and change, comprising a structural member which partakes in the raising and lowering operations, a ribbon fork, a member for directly controlling the operation of the ribbon fork carried by said struetural part, and intermediate lever means for securing identical operating strokes for said ribbon fork irrespective of the position to which said structural part is raised or lowered.

claim l, having a part lowered for type case References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,980,160 Benjamin et al Nov. 13, 1934 2,096,108 Hoinkis Oct. 19, 1937 2,319,036 Burcky May 11, 1943 2,505,729 Zenner Apr. 25, 1950 2,802,048 Kleinschmidt Aug. 6, 1957 

